PSA on important Z-car knowledge

"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12) 09/19/2020 at 17:46 • Filed to: None

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People are saying the Z Proto’s taillights are mimicing the Z32 300ZX. I’ve seen it here, I’ve seen it there, I’ve seen it on Doug. This isn’t the whole truth.

Zs have always had a few common traits. They’re always 6-cylinder, always RWD. They all have a unique Z logo. They often have 3 tunnel gauges in top-center dash (excluding Z32), they’re often available with 2 or 4 seats (not true of Z33/Z34). They often have pillar mounted Z badges (not true since Z31). The

One trait is the rear lights being two parallel, horizontal bars. Yes, the new Z has it and the Z32 does too, but it was true of every generation until the 350Z. To say that this one thing specifically ties this car to a particular generation is to expose yourself as an ignoramus of all things Z.

Even the weird ass facelift Z31 tried to keep a separator between them

Be informed. Like the Mustang and the Skyline and the Corvette, the lights weren’t done to hark back to a specific generation. They were done to relate to all of them.

Hudson Hawkish > Nauraushaun 09/19/2020 at 17:50

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That orange Z is canonical Z. The wellspring of Z.

I want it

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Hudson Hawkish 09/19/2020 at 18:02

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I wasn’t totally sure about it when I saw the ad, but in person I quickly decided it was the color I wanted. 

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Nauraushaun 09/19/2020 at 18:05

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The 918 orange Z labeled 1970 is in fact not a 1970, it’s a late 71 or later 240. I agree about the lights, I never thought the Proto lights were going after one generation specifically, they do have two rows. I wish the license plate was between the lights on the Proto, maybe there will be a kit for that. 

Nauraushaun > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 09/19/2020 at 19:00

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What makes you say that about the Z? Just curious, I know little of the early guys. I think that pic is from a museum in Shanghai, tbh I’m not shocked they got it wrong.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Nauraushaun 09/19/2020 at 19:03

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Series 1 cars have little vents under the rear window, a chrome knob to open the gas door and the round side vent on the pillar is just a 240Z emblem. Later they made a circular vent where the pillar emblem was and got rid of the hatch vents. They found the rear vents let exhaust in and the had to have some somewhere or it created a pressure imbalance in the car, not comfortable. Those are the main ones you can see from a glance. So that is not a Series 1. 

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Nauraushaun 09/19/2020 at 19:07

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My car is middle 71 so I still have the chrome knob but not the vents like that. Highlander has a 70, his white one is like this. 

Nauraushaun > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 09/19/2020 at 19:29

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Haha, nice! I like to thing I know as much about Z32s as you do these.

Textured Soy Protein > Nauraushaun 09/19/2020 at 19:51

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The double stacked big and small ovals floating in a black panel are a direct callback to the Z32 though.

Nauraushaun > Textured Soy Protein 09/20/2020 at 01:46

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Dude. AH3 Cherry Red Pearl in Euro spec, 2+2 targa turbo. Almost identical to one I had except mine was an S2 with the pedestal spoiler. Also mine was no turbo. Excellent condition too.

I suppose they probably are. I’d like to say they aren’t - there are only so many ways to get those lights in there, and there’s no reason to call back to the Z32, it wasn’t particularly well loved. But they certainly mimic that car more than any other Z.

Textured Soy Protein > Nauraushaun 09/20/2020 at 07:20

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Honestly that’s just a pic from wikipedia. 

Here in the US the Z32 isn’t as hyped up as the MkIV Supra, NSX or FD RX-7, but it’s part of that whole early 90s max performance Japanese cars era that people remember very fondly. I’d say at least in the US and Japan the Z32 has plenty of nostalgia going for it.

Nauraushaun > Textured Soy Protein 09/20/2020 at 16:37

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I know, I’ve seen it before ;)

I don’t think anyone really rates the Z as highly as the other 90s cars. But the Supra and RX-7 came out 4 years after the Z32 - so yes they are more advanced. They literally followed in the Z32's footsteps.

They’re also more focused and harder to own/live with, which does appeal to kids on the internet which builds the legacy of those cars. But the Z32 appealed to buyers. The Z32 sold 6 times the amount the MkIV Supra did in North America, it outsold Supra, NSX, RX-7 and GTO combined.

I think we remember the Z32 less fondly, but in its day, it was the best .

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 09/20/2020 at 21:49

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The orange Z is also wearing later S130 6-spoke wheels... so it doesn’t appear to be ultra-original... even though it does look good.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 09/20/2020 at 22:00

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It’s in China so I’m not surprised.